STANISLAUS SUPPORTS DIASPORA CONFERENCE

NEW YORK, March 29, 2010 - Former Grenada Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus has endorsed an initiative by the Grenada Government to convene a Diaspora Conference in St. George’s later this year.

Dr. Stanislaus, a stalwart of the Caribbean Community in New York, said the Preparatory Conference, scheduled for August, should provide a platform to tap into the expertise of Grenadians in the Diaspora. The former diplomat and retired dentist were among a number of individuals and representatives of Grenadian organisations who attended a weekend meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter David in Brooklyn, New York. “This is an opportunity for Grenadians in the Diaspora to become fully involved in the development of their homeland. I’m encouraging all organisations to embrace this initiative and participate,” said Dr. Stanislaus. Minister David, who also held a similar meeting in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, updated the organisations on the Grenada Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its relationship with the Diaspora and the purpose of the Office of Diaspora Affairs (ODA) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister also discussed plans for the Preparatory Conference, August 5 and 6. The Embassy of Grenada convened the meeting of Leaders of Grenadian community Organisations based in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area (DC, Virginia and Maryland) to meet with Minister David. Minister David, who was accompanied by Ambassador of Grenada to the United States, Gillian Bristol and other Grenadian diplomats, said that the government considers a strengthened partnership with the Diaspora to be integral to Grenada’s development. He also pointed out that the advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) means that Grenada’s borders could be expanded beyond its shores to include its Diaspora. The Minister also invited all to participate in the Diaspora activities being organised by the ODA including the Preparatory Conference (August 5th and 6th, 2010 in Grenada); the Founding Conference (2011, Grenada) and the Homecoming (2012, Grenada). Participants welcomed the establishment of the ODA as a long-overdue mechanism that would greatly facilitate their efforts to assist Grenada. They noted that their activities included assistance to Grenada principally in the medical and educational fields. The representatives of the ODA plan to conduct a follow-up visit to include a broader community meeting in Washington, D.C. in April. Similar meetings are also scheduled for London, UK in May and Toronto, Canada in June.